Windows emulation application

Wine lets you run Windows software on other operating systems (like Linux). You have to note that not every application will run, but users tested and reviewed more thousands applications. Application database has more than 13,000 entries with applications that work on various OSes.

Updating your Operating System

This operation can be done using two methods. First you can use the Update Manager (which can be find under System –> Administration.

After you press the Check button you will be prompted for your user session password. After this step, if any updates available, you can install them, all or partially based on your selection.

The other method can achieve the same result using the command prompt terminal. Terminal can be found under Applications –> Accessories.

In the terminal you can type:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

The apt-get command is a powerful command-line tool used to work with Ubuntu’s Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) performing such functions as installation of new software packages, upgrade of existing software packages, updating of the package list index, and even upgrading the entire Ubuntu system.

First command updates the package index; the APT package index is essentially a database of available packages from the repositories defined in the /etc/apt/sources.list file.
Second command upgrades packages; from time to time, updated versions of some packages currently installed on your computer become available from the package repositories.

The sudo command will run the commands as super user and you’ll be prompted for your user session password. After the system update you can run sudo apt-get autoclean to clear out the local repository of retrieved package files. More details about apt-get command can be found if you ran in a terminal the command man apt-get.

Before you registered for the exam you should register for an account at Linux Professional Institute. After you register you’ll receive an unique LPI ID which you must provide (also with a valid ID card) at the exam center for proper identification.

Exams can be taken on Pearson Vue or Prometric Testing Centers. You can locate a Vue testing center or look-up for a Prometric test center.

I found Vue’s site more user friendly and the information more easy and more quickly to find, but this is just a personal opinion. On the other hand, it is possible that Prometric to have a testing center more close to you than Vue. It is better to take a look on both websites, to analyze data and to take the right action, convenient to your needs. The prices are similar for both providers, at least for my country. The difference is that on Vue’s site you can register for all three exams at any time and on Prometric’s site candidate must successfully pass either LPI 101 or 102 before booking for the second LPI exam and the Ubuntu 199 exam can be booked at any time.

Vouchers are valid for 12 months from date of receipt so, there is enough time to learn and to prepare for successfully passing the LPIC-1 and UPC exams.

Update, 06 June 2010: The link to “special offer exam” is dead. But the offer is still valid, and the link to “the online form” is still active. Good luck.